Fort Meade - USNA - Andrews AFB: Online Shopping Tips for the Holidays (and Year-Round)

No, Silly, I'm not talking about buying a home online - even if this is a real estate networking site.  I'm referring to all the other things you might purchase online between now and New Year's Eve.  Media estimates vary, but most indicate that anywhere between a third to a half of all holiday shopping will be done online this year.

That's why I put together these tips, with a little guidance from the Electronic Retailing Association.  You might want to share them with your clients or post a similar list on your outside blog, since Tips #1 and #2 could be important to preserving good credit.

SEVEN ONLINE SHOPPING TIPS

1.  Know the Seller.

• Shop online with companies you know and trust.  If you are unfamiliar with the seller, look for third-party verification such as a buySAFE Seal, which guarantees your online purchase up to $25,000, even on eBay.
  
• If you receive an email from an online merchant or payment facilitator (such as Paypal) requesting your social security number, passwords, account numbers or other personal information, do not click on the link in the email.  Instead, log in to the sender's website in a separate window to update your account information.

2.  Use a Secure Connection.

• Look for the "s" following "http" in the URL.  In other words, look for https://  This indicates you have a secure connection.
  
• Make sure your online transactions are Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) enabled and encrypted.   SSL is the universally accepted method for providing secure communications on the Internet.  Before entering personal information, be sure the padlock at the top or bottom of your browser is closed and locked.

3.  Verify Contact Information.

• Make sure the website provides contact information including a mailing address and phone number.  Dial that phone number, if the vendor is unknown to you, to verify it is legitimate.  

4.  Familiarize Yourself with Return/Exchange Policies.

• Always look for a company's return and exchange policy before you place your order. If you make a purchase, you are agreeing to the terms outlined by the company.  If there is no published return/exchange policy, you should assume that the sale is final.
  
• Keep your eye open for a satisfaction policy, which is another incentive to do business with a seller.  can't be returned if they are opened.

5.  Check out the Shipping/Handling Options.

• What are your shipping options?  Make sure you know the carrier, when your purchase will be shipped, how long delivery will take, what will happen if your purchase is out of stock, and how much you will pay for shipping?

6.  Identify Additional Charges.

• Determine if you are reponsible for sales tax, processing fees, insurance options, or membership dues -  just a few of the fees that you may not notice at first, which can dramatically increase your costs.

7.  Keep Good Records. 

• Check the email receipt of your transaction to make sure it is accurate, and then save it in a folder labelled "receipts" so it will be easy to find.  If there is any problem with your purchase, email will provide a written log of your communication with the seller.  If you have a phone conversation with the seller, be sure to write down names of all people you speak with, their titles and the dates and times you spoke with them, as well as what they told you. 

In the event of a dispute regarding any online purchase, contact the seller immediately and clearly state your problem.  If you keep a positive attitude and are courteous, many merchants will fix the problem when they learn about it.  If not, your good records will come in handy in resolving the matter.  

If you know of any advertising online, on television, or radio that makes unsubstantiated claims about a retail product, the Electronic Retailing Association wants to know about it.  CLICK HERE to file your consumer complaint.

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Find a Home and learn about Real Estate Market Conditions in Crofton and Anne Arundel County, Maryland.  Check out Today's Rates, use the free Mortgage Calculator, and watch a brief video about the Power of RE/MAX.  These consumer-friendly real estate tools are provided by Margaret Woda for you to use at your own pace. 

When you're ready to go from "just browsing" to "let's get serious", contact Margaret online or call her at RE/MAX Vision in Crofton Maryland. 410-451-1900